Posted:4th Oct 2002I have a question about constructing handles for fire poi: I know that when it comes to clothes for fire, synthetic = bad because it will melt. I would assume the same is true for the materials you make your handles out of, but I've seen nylon handles available, and they seem like a cheap, easy-to-make-at-home, vegetarian option. Are they a bad idea? I've tried canvas, but it wears out pretty quickly.

Posted:4th Oct 2002I make my handles out of tubular nylon webbing with d-rings sewn in. The tubular stuff is made with more tightly woven material which also makes them stronger, more durable and more flame resistant. I'm sure they could possibly melt to your skin but to get them that hot you'd have to be on fire anyway.

Posted:4th Oct 2002I also went for nylon on my fire equipment, you don't need any dead animal to enjoy poi. With kerosene the flames on my poi never get anywhere near the handles, so i guess theres no problem there. I do have cotton straps on my practice poi, which i stole from a pair of my bondage trousers . I did get a pair of the nylon handles sold on this site today to replace the cotton ones, but they are no way near the quality of the ones on pure flame poi (sold on this site too). Comfort wise i think i'll stick to the cotton.

Posted:4th Oct 2002Nylon here only problem is if you drop your poi and the handle lands on the wick..and i have done that didnt hurt them but did singe them a little.. i use 1 inch strapping liek you would find on the handle of a duffle bag

Posted:5th Oct 2002Thanks for the input, folks. Question for LL - is tubular webbing harder to find than the regular stuff? Is it the kind of thing I'll find at my local hardware store, or will I need to hit the outdoor specialty place? Is it expensive? I'm gonna make handles this weekend, one way or the other, but I'd still be curious to hear more, especially from the safety gurus out there (are you there NYC? it's me, alleykat).

Nylon works well. I wouldn't worry about them catching fire. Thin synthetic fabric like clothing is what really needs to be watched out for... Besides, if you're really getting fire near your straps you've got bigger problems.

Posted:5th Oct 2002imho the nylon loops on the Pure Flame and Electroglo poiu sold on this site are as comfortable as leather straps I've tried on other people's poi. They seem to have something else woven in with them to make them softer (more silky) to the touch. The fyrefly nylon loops sold as parts here are however quite uncomfortable.